Qatar’s customs authority foils several bids to smuggle drugs into the country

Qatari authorities have always had a firm grip over smuggling attempts of drugs and other illegal substances into the country.

As if to underline the fact, inspectors from the General Authority of Customs (GAC) recently foiled a number of attempts to smuggle illicit drugs into the country through Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Hamad Port, according to Gulf Times.

The authority seized 14kg of hashish and 42.5kg of marijuana at the HIA and 12 tonnes of chewing tobacco at the Hamad Port.

The hashish was found in two batches of 7kg each, hidden inside secret pockets in the smugglers’ luggage.

The marijuana, on the other hand, was seized through 10 separate operations at HIA after the Customs officers on duty suspected the conduct of the travellers in question and decided to conduct a thorough search of their luggage. The contraband was found hidden in their bags, wrapped in an almost identical way. 

The arrested smugglers were referred to the concerned authorities for further necessary legal procedures.

GAC chairman Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Jamal honoured eight employees from the HIA and Hamad Port Customs for their role in foiling the smuggling bids and their alertness while on duty.